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> NGC 1097, a barred spiral galaxy and elliptical companion
NGC 1097, a barred spiral galaxy and elliptical companion
author: Anglo-Australian Observatory/David Malin Images/Novapix
reference: a-gax10-97003
Image Size 300 DPI: 26 * 17 cm
NGC 1097 is a fine, barred spiral galaxy seen from a distance of about 50 million light years. The galaxy is unusual in several respects. It is a fairly strong radio source and is also bright at far infrared wavelenghts, indicating the presence of warm dust. The galaxy is also interacting woth a small elliptical galaxy, seen in the upper right (NW) corner of the picture. This galaxy shows the subtle interleaved 'shells' or stepped changes in brightness resulting from the interaction. Finally, the galaxy is known to have extremely faint, large-scale, optical jet-like structures emanating from its nucleus. These extend far beyond the image presented here and are not seen on this photo.
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